Arts Council Changes
Dear Editor: The Greater Sitka Arts Council, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, lost state and local funding in 2019. As a result, the volunteer board has had to make a series of difficult decisions for the new year.
GSAC will need to postpone the Sitka Wearable Art Show from spring to the fall of 2020. This will allow the Arts Council to do additional fundraising, both to help pay for the event and to support the council as a whole.
GSAC’s office will close on Feb. 18. Volunteer efforts will continue with the board of directors and others including services to umbrella groups: the Sitka Grind, Community Theater, and Sitka Folk. The inventory of sound equipment will remain available for rental.
In her year with GSAC, Executive Director Amelia Mosher coordinated Wearable Art, the Artisan Market, art walks and Patreon Internet-based membership and fund raising. We hope to continue to build on Amelia’s groundwork work to produce a successful fall Wearable Art show and serve our mission to support the arts in Sitka.
If you enjoy community arts, including Sitka Folk’s Song Circle and Open Mic, then please support the volunteers and board members who will be working to continue Sitka arts programs. Memberships and donations may be made through GSAC website, sitkaartscouncil.org, at the “support” link, or to P.O. Box 564, Sitka.
The board appreciates your support and understanding as it works to sustain the Arts Council and the community art mission we believe in. We anticipate resuming strengthened operation in the fall of 2020.
Communications with the board may be made: thinkartthinksitka@gmail.com, P.O. Box 564, Sitka 99835 and individual board membersPatrick Hughes, President; Bobbi Jordan, Vice President; Rain Van Den Berg, Secretary; Charlie Morgan, Treasurer; Ted Howard; Shauna Thornton; John Stein; Melinda McAdams.
John Stein,
Greater Sitka Arts Council
Motor Fuels Tax
Dear Editor: The paper Wednesday night had an article about Sen. Click Bishop introducing a bill that proposes to double the highway motor fuels tax in the state. It is a politically gutsy move that is way overdue. Looking at the state budget I have found that the fees on vehicles in this state pay only around 7% of the cost for our state highways. The marine highway ticket sales pay around 30% of the cost for the terries. According to my math to become on par with the ferry system the highway motor taxes need to be quadrupled at least.
It is high time that this country quits subsidizing the oil industry. I also believe that it’s time for the city of Sitka to make street maintenance an enterprise fund and pay for it with their own sreet motor fuels tax. When snow is plowed off the road and thrown all over the sidewalks the motorists should pay the fees and not the public at large.
Wayne Dye, Sitka
